Jeyaraman N, Jeyaraman M, Ramasubramanian S, Balaji S, Nallakumarasamy A. Visualizing medicine: The case for implementing graphical abstracts in clinical reporting. World J Methodol 2025; 15(2): 95966 [DOI: 10.5662/wjm.v15.i2.95966]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Naveen Jeyaraman, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor, Research Associate, Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Velappanchavadi, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India.naveenjeyaraman@yahoo.com
Research Domain of This Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Naveen Jeyaraman, Madhan Jeyaraman, Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India
Swaminathan Ramasubramanian, Sangeetha Balaji, Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College, Omandurar Government Estate, Chennai 600002, Tamil Nadu, India
Arulkumar Nallakumarasamy, Department of Orthopaedics, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research–Karaikal, Puducherry 609602, India
Co-first authors: Naveen Jeyaraman and Madhan Jeyaraman.
Author contributions: Jeyaraman M conceptualized the manuscript; Jeyaraman N, Ramasubramanian S, and Balaji S performed the data analysis and wrote the manuscript; Nallakumarasamy A performed the image analysis; All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing this manuscript.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Naveen Jeyaraman, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor, Research Associate, Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Velappanchavadi, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India.naveenjeyaraman@yahoo.com
Received: April 23, 2024 Revised: September 21, 2024 Accepted: October 21, 2024 Published online: June 20, 2025 Processing time: 218 Days and 1.1 Hours
Abstract
Graphical abstracts (GAs) are emerging as a pivotal tool in medical literature, enhancing the dissemination and comprehension of complex clinical data through visual summaries. This editorial highlights the significant advantages of GAs, including improved clarity, increased reader engagement, and enhanced visibility of research findings. By transforming intricate scientific data into accessible visual formats, these abstracts facilitate quick and effective knowledge transfer, crucial in clinical decision-making and patient care. However, challenges such as potential data misrepresentation due to oversimplification, the skill gap in graphic design among researchers, and the lack of standardized creation guidelines pose barriers to their widespread adoption. Additionally, while software such as Adobe Illustrator, BioRender, and Canva are commonly employed to create these visuals, not all researchers may be proficient in their use. To address these issues, we recommend that academic journals establish clear guidelines and provide necessary design training to researchers. This proactive approach will ensure the creation of high-quality GAs, promote their standardization, and expand their use in clinical reporting, ultimately benefiting the medical community and improving healthcare outcomes.
Core Tip: Graphical abstracts significantly enhance the clarity and dissemination of complex clinical data in medical literature, offering both improved comprehension and increased reader engagement. Addressing challenges like data oversimplification and skill gaps in graphic design is crucial for their effective implementation and standardization.
